Report: East Bengal penalised for age-fraud controversy in AIFF U-17 Youth League

East Bengal Fined Rs. 60,000 and Faces Possible 3 Point Deductions

In a startling turn of events, Kolkata giants East Bengal finds itself entangled in a web of controversy, facing a hefty Rs. 60,000 fine and a potential 3-point deduction in the AIFF U-17 Youth League as per reports by Sangbad Pratidin. The club’s alleged transgression revolves around the fielding of an overage player with multiple registrations, casting a shadow over their performance in the youth competition.

The allegations were not only for the overage of the players but also for the use of fake names. Subsequently, the All India Football Federation has suspended Aniket Kaur of East Bengal FC’s under-17 team.

The problem took place just after the under-17 derby ended. After losing to their arch-rivals by a four-goal margin, Mohun Bagan complained about Aniket to the AIFF body. Mohun Bagan has levied allegations against East Bengal, claiming that the latter included a player who had previously featured for them in the U-13 League during the 2017-18 season.

This player has also been reported to have participated in the Calcutta Football League for various clubs. Following a thorough investigation, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has substantiated the accusations by confirming the player’s involvement in multiple registrations within the Central Registration System (CRS).

The problem also got escalated as the player took part in East Bengal’s tournament opener against Mohammedan SC on December 14, securing a 3-2 victory for their team.

A club director mentioned to Sangbad Pratidin, “If the player submits inaccurate documents that are widely accepted everywhere, then we don’t have any responsibility. All we can do is tighten our checking methods before registering any player.”

With a commitment to ensuring fair play in the upcoming 2023-24 edition of the Youth League, the AIFF is expected to introduce more stringent verification methods. These measures aim to prevent incidences similar to the above-mentioned events and sustain the veracity of youth football competitions. The league comprises a total of 32 teams distributed across eight groups which started on December 13.

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